Barbie Maker Mattel Apologizes After Printing Link to Porn Website on Packaging

New Delhi: Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls, has issued an apology after an adult website link was mistakenly printed on the packaging of dolls launched to promote the upcoming Wicked film. The error came to light when social media users pointed out that the web address on the doll boxes redirected to a pornographic website.

Several individuals shared photos of the dolls' packaging online, revealing that the dolls were labeled with a link to wicked.com, rather than the intended wickedmovie.com.

The Wicked Dolls, featuring the characters Glinda and Elphaba, were released in anticipation of the musical fantasy film starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. However, instead of directing consumers to the official movie website, the packaging erroneously linked to wicked.com, a site containing explicit content.

The misprint was found on the boxes of both the Glinda and Elphaba dolls, representing the two main characters in Wicked.

 Mattel's Apology

Mattel addressed the issue with an apology on Sunday, calling it an "unfortunate error."

“Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the US, which was intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMovie.com landing page,” the statement read.

“We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy the situation. Parents are advised that the misprinted website is not appropriate for children. Consumers who have already purchased the product are encouraged to discard the packaging or obscure the link. They may also contact Mattel customer service for further information.”